Home › Arizona › Phoenix › Piestewa Peak Summit Trail #300
Piestewa Peak Summit Trail #300
4.8 ★★★★★ 96 Google reviews · Running trail in Phoenix, Arizona · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Piestewa Peak Summit Trail #300's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Piestewa Peak Summit Trail #300
“You get beautiful views long before that so it's still worth it even if you don't make the whole climb.”
Great hike, but very challenging! The Summit #300 hike is 2.2 miles out and back and tends to be fairly high trafficked. We started the trail around 7:45am and the trail wasn’t too busy. The trail is pretty much an incline from the start so it will certainly get your heart pumping.
At first I was skeptical about this trail. I came alone, and not in the best shape of my life. But it looked worth it. After seeing that the difficulty of the trail was extremely difficult I was hesitant. I didn't know what to expect.
Decent hard hike. If your consistent with minimal breaks, you can go up to the top in about an hour. There is not much rock climbing involved compared to Camelback Mountain, but there will be some rock climbing towards the end. Nothing insane though once you get to the top there is beautiful views of the mountain.
Amazing trail. I wouldn't say it's extremely difficult, but you definitely want to be in shape for this one. For experienced hikers I would give this hike about 2.5 hours to the top and back to the lot. Have fun, bring lots of water.
Trail conditions & character
“We took a bunch of breaks on the way up to hydrate, be sure to bring plenty of water, but the views from the top were awesome!”
“We started early and took the Freedom Trail around the mountain, which took longer than expected and put us behind on the climb.”
“There was plenty of shade before sunset and lots of parking, so I’d recommend starting the hike no later than 1 to 1.”
“It was pretty easy for me, but objectively the difficulty is at least moderate - it’s rocky and uphill the whole way.”
“I hiked this mountain in the afternoon and saw the sunset and the city lights.”
“If you’re planning to hike to the peak (Piestewa Summit) and add the loop (Freedom Trail), it’s a solid option, but be prepared—it adds about 3 extra hours.”
Plan your run at Piestewa Peak Summit Trail #300
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitephoenix.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 5 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 5 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 5 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 5 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 5 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 5 AM–11 PM |
| Sunday | 5 AM–11 PM |
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